Strand handling machine



1360- 1944- E. J. LARSEN ET AL STRAND HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 23,1942 3 SheetsSheet 1 lNl/ENTORS E.J.LARSN 0. 6. NELSON A TTORNEY Dec.12, I944. LARSEN AL 2,364,984

STRAND HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSE.J.LAR$EN 0.6.NEL5ON Patented Dec. 12, 1944 2,364,984 STRAND HANDLINGMACHINE Elmer J. Larsen and Oscar G. Nelson, Baltimore, Md., asslgnorsto Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application July 23, 1942, Serial No. 452,027

Claims.

This invention relates to strand handling machines, and moreparticularly to machines for twisting electrical conductors into cables.

Cables have been formed of pairs of insulated electrical conductors, butheretofore such cables have been made by first twisting the conductorsinto pairs and accumulating them so twisted on reels. Thereafter,desired groups of the pairs of conductors were intertwisted to form acable in another machine by withdrawing the pairs from their reels.

An object of the invention is to provide a strand handling machine, andmore particularly one which is highly efficient in twisting electricalconductors into pairs and twisting these pairs into a cable. 1

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a strandhandling machine having a plurality of fliers actuable in a givendirection and each adapted to intertwist strands into a pair, anotherflier in tandem therewith and fed therefrom adapted for actuation in areverse direction, the first fliers being driven at a speed to form anovertwist in the pairs to offset the tendency of the last mentionedflier to untwist the pairs.

Oother objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of the pairforming portion of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the remaining portions of themachine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the supply reel units;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of one end of the reelsupporting portion of one of the fliers, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the other end of thesame portion shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to themachine in general shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By placing these figures innumerical order side by side, their base lines will align one with theother and a view of the entire machine may be had. In Fig. 1 two flierunits, indicated generally at In and II and each having two supply reelsas shown in Fig. 3, are actuated to twist conductors l2, withdrawn fromthe reels in each unit, into pairs, the conductors receiving one twistper revolution of their respective fliers upon approaching their sheavesl4 and another twist after passing over sheaves I5 and I6 of theirfliers. The fliers I0 and H are driven in like directions at speedssufflcient to place overtwists in the pairs of conductors to offset thetendency of the structure shown in Fig. 2, from untwisting the pairswhen these pairs are twisted together in an opposite direction from thatof their original twist.

When leaving the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the conductorsare then in twisted pairs identified by reference numerals it, thesepairs passing through a hollow shaft B9 to a flier indicated generallyat 20, in which a capstan 2! is disposed. The capstan M is drivencounterclockwise about a shaft 2'2, to cause advancement of theconductors 62, from their respective supply reels through the fliers itand H, and the pairs It through the hollow shaft it. The pairs It aretwisted together in a direction opposite their original twists to form acable indicated at 23. The cable 23 is passed around the capstan 2|! toeffect a pulling connection between the capstan and the cable, afterwhich the cable is fed over a fixed sheave 24 and an adjustable sheave25 to a takeup reel 26. The flier 2% is driven in a direction oppositethat of the fliers it and ii, to twist the pairs together in the form ofthe cable 23.

.With the general understanding of the machine and what it accomplishes,attention is now directed to the detailed structure thereof. A commonpower means, such as a motor 28, is provided for driving the variousparts of the machine, althou'gh separate speed reducing units 29 and 30may be employed for the separate units shown in Figs. 1 and 2respectively.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the fliers l0 and Hare disposed in a housing .32 formed to provide bearing supports for thevarious shafts and other rotatable structures. The fliers Ill and l Iare identical in structure and a description of one will apply to wellto both fliers. Consider, for example, the flier ill. There are providedspaced cylindrical heads 34 and 35 which have hub portions 36 and 31respectively at their centers for mounting on their respective shafts 38and 39. The shaft 38 is journalled in bearings 40 and 4| supported bythe housing 32. The portion of the shaft dis-" posed in the hub 36 isgrooved, at 42, to rotatably receive the sheave l4 and to allow passageof the conductors l2 therethrough and around the sheave as shown. A moredetailed illustration of the inner end of the shaft 38 is shown in Fig.4, which illustrates a conical end 43 of the groove 42 and also a die 44with a conical aperture 45 therein. This formation permits free travelof the conductors I2 from their respective reels 46 and 41 into theshaft 88 and around the sheave I4. The sheave I4 is rotatably supported,at 48, upon a rib 49 of the head 34, the diametrically opposed rib 49supporting a weight 58 to counterbalance the sheave. A cylindrical cover5I disposed upon the head 34 encloses the parts therein and completes atruly cylindrical structure to eliminate windage during the high speedof retation of the flier.

A guide 52, integral with a bracket 53 mounted upon the inner side ofthe head '34, serves to guide the conductors I2 from the sheave I4 to asimilar guide 54 of a bracket 55 mounted upon the head 35. The guide 54guides the conductors to the head 35. The head 35 is substantiallyidentical in structure to the head 34 except in its width, the hub 31extending laterally beyond the head 35 to a bearing 55 which, togetherwith a bearing 56, supports the shaft 39. One of two supporting fins 58of the head 35 rotatably supports the sheave I5, while the othersupports a weight 59 to counterbalance the sheave. A cover 68,cylindrical in contour, encloses the parts of the head 35 to complete atruly cylindrical structure to eliminate windage during rotation of theflier.

Attention at this point is directed to an aperture 6| in the head 34 andapertures 62 and 63 in the head 35 for the advancement of the conductorsI2. The conductors upon passing through the aperture 63, pass over thesheave I6 which is rotatably supported, at 64, by the hub 31. The shaft39 is grooved. at 65, for the free rotation of the sheave I6 therein,the hub 31 being similarly grooved for this purpose. In both instancesheads 34 and 35 are fixed through hubs 36 and 31 to their respectiveshafts 38 and 39. The shaft 39 has various diameters in its outer orright hand portion of increasing sizes to accommodate a conical aperture66 therein which communicates with the groove 65 through an aperture 61for the diagonal travel of the conductors which are then called a pair.

Interposed between the heads 34 and 35 of the flier, is a reelsupporting unit composed mainly of three portions 18, 1| and 12. Theportion 18 and the manner in which it is supported by the shaft 38 isshown in Fig. 4. The portion 18 is of a fiat structure excepting the end13, which is cylindrical to receive a bearing 14 which is mounted uponthe end of the shaft 38, a cutaway portion 15 short of the end 13permitting travel of the conductors I2 from opposite sides of theportion to enter the aperture 43 of the shaft. The supported end of theportion 12 is shown in Fig. 5, this portion being substantially flatexcepting its cylindrical end 16 which is mounted upon a bearing 11, thelatter being supported by the shaft 39. The central portion 1| isrigidly secured to the end portions 18 and 12 by overlapping connectionsand through the aid of screws 18. Attention is now directed to Fig. 3,which illustrates the. central portion H as having a projection 88 atits lower end to receive a weight or holding means 8| which is suspendedbetween the heads 34 and 35 and serves to hold the reel supportingstructure against rotation during the rotation of the shafts 38 and 39and their respective heads.

The portion H has a circular aperture therein to receive a bearing 83held in place by an annular plate 84. A spindle 85 has its inner end**-rotatably mounted on the bearing 83 and supports a brake member 88which is secured thereto by means of screws 81. The brake member 88 isdisc-shaped and has a friction surface 88 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

Returning now to the spindle 85, attention is directed to a conicalportion 89 at the inner end thereof for wedging engagement with a hubportion 98 of the reel 41. The outer end of the spindle is threaded at8| to receive a nut 92, a conical portion 93 thereof serving towedgingly interengage a hub portion 94 of the reel 41. With thisstructure the reel 41 is removable and fixedly mounted on the spindle 85for rotation therewith on the bearing 88. Bearings 96 and 91 aredisposed in the spindle 85 to rotatably support a shaft 98. Interflttingsleeves 99 and I88 are disposed concentric with the shaft 98 between thebearings 96 and 91 and serve as spacers for the bearings. A nut MI isdisposed upon a threaded end I82 of the shaft, to hold the shaft againstdisplacement. An enlarged end I83 of the shaft is rotatably supported ina central aperture of the brake member 86 and extends into a centralaperture I84 of a brake member I85. The brake member I85 is similar incontour to the brake member 86 but is recessed to receive and support abrake or friction element I86 of a suitable structure. Diametricallyopposed slots I81 are formed in the hub portion of the brake member I85,to movably receive a pin I89 which serves as an interengaging meansbetween the brake member I85 and a spindle II8. the latter having aninner end, extending into the central aperture of the brake member I85,slotted at III to receive the pin I89.

The spindle H8 is formed at its inner end for mounting upon a bearingII2 through the assistance of an annular retaining member II4 securedthereto and also supported by the bearing II2 as shown in Fig. 3. Thebearing H2 is supported by a plate II5 centrally apertured for thebearing, as shown, and rigidly secured to the central portion 1I throughthe aid of screws II6. A retaining member II1, annular in generalcontour and formed for retaining engagement, as at II8, with the spindleH8, is secured to the plate II5 through the aid of screws II9. A similarretaining connection is provided at I28 between the plate 84 and thespindle 85.

Means is provided, through the aid of the pin I89, to apply pressure tothe brake member I85 to move the friction element I86 thereof intointimate engagement with the brake member 86. This means consists mainlyof a spring IZI disposed in the spindle H8 and whose force, controlledthrough an adjusting screw I22, may be varied and applied to the pin I89 through a plunger I24. The outer contour of the spindle H8 is similarto that of the spindle 85, there being provided a conical portion I26for engagement with a hub portion I 21 of the reel 46 and a removablenut I28 threadedly mounted upon the outer end of the spindle andprovided with a cone portion I29 for engagement with a hub portion I38of the reel 46. Thus it may be observed from this structure, that eachflier I8 and will be uniform due to the intermediate brakin means.

Referring now to the power means for driving the fliers Iii and IIattention is directed to the motor 28 which drives the unit 29. Anoutput shaft Iill, which may be found in Fig. 2, is, in actualstructure, formed of a plurality of parts joined by couplings I32 andI33, and emtends through the housing 32 to a point short of the left endthereof. The shaft tan is journalled in suitable bearings I36.

Viewing now the portions of the shaft disposed in the ends of thehousing, it will be observed that sprockets I36 and tilt are mountedthereon. These sprockets drive the shafts ti and it. re spectively,through chains I38 and their respective sprockets I3t. Through sprocketand chain connections Illi and MI, shafts it?! and t lt respectively aredriven. Rotation of the shafts W2 and It?! will rotate their respectiveshafts i 36 and M5 through their respective gears Mt, Mill and Mt.Finally, sprocket and chain connections Mt and IN, operativelyconnecting their respective shafts ltd-458i and it3ii, will complete thedriving means for the two fliers it) and ii. The gears Mt, Ml and M8 ateach end oi the fliers are identical to cause rotation of the heads 3tand 35 of the flier Iii in synchronism one with the other, the sameresult being accom plished for the flier II due to the likeness of thesprocket and chain connections it, it and as.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 2, wherein the flier it is composed ofheads Hi3 and Hit connected by rods its and H1. The head itii is mountedupon the inner end of the shaft it and is rotated therewith, the headits being rotatably mounted at its through any suitable means not shown.

Considering first the driving means for the capstan 2I, attention isdirected to the motor it which drives the unit 38, the output shaft Hitof which is coupled at Itl to a shaft E62. The shaft M52 is rotatablysupported in any suitable bear ings (not shown) and through a sprocketand chain connection I63, rotates a shaft tilt. Through a chain of gearsIE5, ltd and m1, rotation of the shaft I54 will rotate a shaft ltd. Asprocket and chain connection I69 continues the driving means from theshaft wt to a sleeve or hollow shaft I10 which is free for rotation onthe shaft I9 and includes a gear Ill. The gear ill drives an idler gearI12 which in turn drives a gear I13, the latter being mounted upon ashaft Md. The shaft I14, when driven, drives a bevelled gear i15 whichis mounted upon the inner end of the shaft and interengages a gear H6.The gear I16 is mounted upon the shaft 22 or fixed to the capstan 2I, tocause rotation of the capstan in a counterclockwise direction throughthe driving means just described, linking it with the shaft I82. Theflier is rotated through a sprocket and chain connection I18 connectingthe shaft I62 to a hollow shaft I19. The flier is thus rotated throughthis means in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of thefliers IO and II.

The takeup reel 28 is mounted upon a rod tilt which is movably disposedin the hollow shaft I19 and adapted, through any suitable mechanism notshown, to be reciprocated yet held against rotation so that the cable 23may be wound on the reel during rotation of the flier. The purpose ofthe reciprocation of the rod I80 is to cause suitable reciprocatorymovement of thereel to eflect distribution of the cable thereon.

lit

such means for reciprocating the rod and reel is shown in the copendingapplication of 0. 6i. Nelson and 'J. A. Wagner, Serial No. 420,444,filed November 26, 1941.

Attention is directed to the sheave 2a which is supported by an arm Ittadjustable on a bracket I83 to direct the cable 23 to either side of thereel 26, depending upon the direction of rotation of the flier 2t. Withthis structure it is possible to direct the complete travel of the cableto either side of the reel without causing damage to the insulation onthe conductors forming the cable.

Upon considering the operation of the apparatus, let it be understoodthat the reels it and t? of both fliers it and ii are filled with insulated electrical conductors i2 and that the rests in each flier aremounted on their spindles so that the conductors will appear to havebeen wound in opposite directions. In other words, one reel, for examplereel dd, is mounted on its spindle hit so that the conductor will bewithdrawn from the bottom of the reel as a result of the apparentclockwise winding of the conductor on the reel, whereas the conductor onthe reel ti will be withdrawn from the top as a result of the apparentwinding of that conductor in a counterclockwise direction. As shown inFig. 1, theconductors of the fliers it and it pass upon their respectivesides of the portions it and enter the conical apertures til of theirshafts tit. In setting up the machine for operation, the conductors ofthe pairs may be manually twisted together and fed through the aperturesjust mentioned around the sheave it through the guides 52 and at, aroundthe sheaves it and it, through the grooves of their respective shifts,the apertures til and lit, where they merge in pairs from their fliersand then pass through the hollow shaft 'iiithrough which they are drawnfrom the capstan it i, and finally reach the takeup reel 36, a completedcable of the two pairs of conductors.

The common power means 28 causes simultaneous and synchronous driving ofthe various parts of the machine. Upon considering the structure in Fig.1, the fliers it and II may each be considered as having three parts,the head 35 and 35 being two of the parts and the intermediate reelsupporting unit the third part. The heads have their separate drivingmeans which are linked to the common driving means and are rotated insynchronism in like directions. As the fliers it and M are rotated, theconductors are advanced in the paths previously described. Theconductors in each pair upon leaving their respective reels and beforereaching their sheaves It, receive one twist for each revolution oftheir filers. The pairs thus twisted travel to the opposite end of thefliers, where they receive another twist for each flier revolution.These twists are predetermined in number, depending upon thecharacteristics of the conductors and their insulating coverings, andupon the number of turns desired for a perfect lay of the conductors ineach pair and the pairs in the completed cable after passing through theentire machine. To eliminate kinking and loosening of the conductors, itis important that the desired number of turns be given to the pairs aswell as to the conductors forming the pairs. Furthermore, the tendencyof the twisting of the pairs in the opposite direction from theiroriginal twist to intertwist the.

pairs into the cable, must also bear consideration. Therefore, thefliers I0 and II are rotated at like speeds in a given direction, totwist the conductors of their respective pairs to form an excess twistin the pairs to offset the tendency of the flier 20 to untwist the pairsduring its rotation in the direction opposite that of the fliers I and II. As a result, the correct twist of the pairs is present in the finalcable due to the tendency of the fliers I0 and II to overtwist thepairs.

It is further important, in establishing uniformity, in the pairs ofconductors, that the conductors travel at like speeds under like andconstant tensions. This is accomplished through the mechanism shown inFig. 3, the reel supporting portion of the fliers I0 and I I. As wapreviously described, the reels 48 and 41 of each flier are caused torotate in opposite directions as a result of the withdrawal of theconductors I2 therefrom. Therefore, the brake members 86 and I05. toether with the friction element I 08 of the latter, are rotated inopposite directions against the frictional force existing therebetween.The friction exists between the member 86 and element I06 and its effectis determined and varied by the force of the spring I2I holding thebrake member and element together. desired tension on the conductors isdetermined and the spring I2I set accordingly through the adjustment ofthe screw I22, the force of the spring being transmitted through theplunger I24 and the pin I08 to the brake member I and element I06. Thusthe brake member I05 and element I08 are movable relative to the brakemember 86, this movement being on a common axis of the brake members.

The removal of the conductors from their reels will cause rotation oftheir respective spindles 85 and H0 in opposite directions with theirrespec- Thus the tive brake members 88 and I05-I08 and the I brakingforce there created will be transmitted equally to 'the conductorsleaving their reels. Therefore, with equal braking force applied in eachflier I0 and II, the tension of all the conductors will be the same.

In each instance the tensions on the conductors of the two fliers mayvary. This may be readily accomplished through the adjustment of theirrespective springs I2I. It may also be desired under such circumstancesto cause rotation of the fliers I0 and I I at diilferent speeds. Thismaybe accomplished by changing the gears I46, I 41 and I48 for gears ofdifferent ratios, to brin about the desired variation in speed of thetwo fliers. In either case, the gears of each set would be identical tocause simultaneous rotation of the heads 34 and 35 of the flier I0.

During the rotation of the fliers I0 and II, it will be apparent thatthe mounting of the central units thereof upon their bearings, asillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, together with the weights 8|, will causethe central or reel supporting unit of the fliers to remain stationaryduring the rotation of the fliers, thus resulting in the forming. of thetwists in the pairs of conductors during their advancement through thefliers.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and thatvarious modifications may be made therein without departing from thescope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What i claimed is:

l. A strand handling machine comprising a pair of supply reels forstrands, a support therefor, means to advance the strands to withdrawthe strands from their reels and thus cause rotation of the reels inopposite directions, braking means interposed between the reels tocreate equal tensions on the advancing strands, an enclosed cylindricalhollow head mounted for rotation relative to the support, and means inthe head to guide the advancing strands and twist them together.

2. A strand handling machine comprising a flier having enclosedcylindrical hollow heads. separate means to support the heads forrotation, a supply unit interposed between the heads to supply strandsthereto, means in the heads to successively receive the strands andtwist them together, and separate means to rotate the heads insynchronism with each other.

3. A strand handling machine comprising a flier having enclosedcylindrical hollow heads, separate means to support the heads forrotation, a supply unit interposed between the heads to supply strandsthereto, means in the heads to successively receive the strands andtwist them together, separate means to rotate the heads in synchronismwith each other, and means to hold the unit against rotation with theheads.

4. A strand handling machine comprisin a flier rotatable to twist twoadvancing strands together, supply reels for the strands rotatable inopposite directions by the advancement of the strands, axially alignedspindles for the reels, means interposed between the reels to rotatablysupport the spindle, and cooperating brake elements connected to theinner ends of their respective spindles'for rotation therewith inopposite directions to create a given brake drag divided between thespindles and reels to cause application of equal tensions on thestrands.

5. A strand handling machine comprising a flier rotatable to twist twoadvancing. strands together, axially aligned spindles for the reels, oneof the spindles being longitudinally apertured, means to rotatablysupport the spindles, cooperating brake elements connected to the innerends of their respective spindles for rotation therewith in oppositedirections to create a given brake drag divided between the spindles andreels to cause application of equal tensions on the strands, and meansdisposed in the apertured spindle to apply a variable force to the brakeelements to vary the given brake drag and thus vary the tension on thestrands.

ELMER J. LARSEN. OSCAR G. NELSON.

